Electrode for electrolytic cells.



Patented Aug. I3, I90I.

l B. E. F. RHODIN. ELEDTBOD FOB ELEGTROLYTIC CELLS.

J fractal. @no f3 i'j um UNITED STATES BRODDE E. F. RI'IODINOF SAULT STE. MARIE, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN ALKALI COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRODE. FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,441, dated August 13, 1901.

Application Ililed July 19| 1900. Serial No. 24,159. No model.)

To all whom, it' may 0071/007472,.-

Be it known that I, BRODDE E. F. RHODIN, a subject of the King of Sweden and Norway, residing at Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, have 5 invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrodes for Electrolytic Cells, of which the following is a specification.

Objects of the present invention are to provide comparatively inexpensive and ecient electrodes for electrolytic cells which shall resist the action of such gases or fumes as are liberated, for example, in the electrolytic decomposition of brine and which shall be of high electrical conductivity and which shall permit of the ready and convenient renewal of any or all of the separate rods and of the independent and collective adjustment of the same.

To this and other ends hereinafter set forth the invention, stated in general terms, comprises an electrode consisting of a carbon block and carbon rods connected together by a screw-thread connection and arranged to have the rods entirely traverse the block.

The nature, characteristic features, and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description,taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in which- Figure 1 is an elevational View illustrating an electrode embodying features of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the same principally in section.

In the drawings, 1 is a block of graphitized carbon which serves as a connection between the sourceof electricity and the rods 2 of graphitized carbon,- and the two are connected together by a screw-thread connection 3. Graphitized carbon is ordinary carbon subjected to a comparatively high temperature, usually in an electric furnace, whereby impurities are removed and the material rendered easily workable and well fitted for use as a conductor of electricity.

The electrode as a whole, as Well as its parts, may be of any preferred size and shape, and it has for the sake of illustration been shown as adapted for application to the type of apparatus described and claimed in 5o Letters Patent No. 608,300, of August 2, 1898,

to J. Gr. A. Rhodin.

A conductor may be applied to the block 1, and the block 1 is provided all around with a marginal flange 5, constructed to fit a corresponding opening in the top of the electrolytic cell, and thus serves to close the opening as well as to support the block. The screw-thread connection 3 provides a gastight joint which resists the action of gases and fumes, such as chlorin, which is the gas evolved in the electrolytic decomposition of'brine, as described in said patent. The block 1, as well as the whole electrode, also resists the action of the evolved gases. In case of'breakage of one or more of the rods 2, as often occurs in practice, the damaged rod or rods may be easily removed and replaced by newones by the simple operation of unscrewing the damaged part or parts and replacing it or them by another or others. It will be understood that wear on the rods occurs principally at their lower ends, and such wear tends to raise the potential dierence of the electrolytic cell. In this invention such wear may be compensated for and the potential difference maintained practically constant by adjusting the rods in respect to the block by the simple operation of un'- screwing them. As shown, the threaded portions of the rods extend clear through the tapped openings in the block, and thus afford a comparatively wide range of adjustment for wear at the lower ends of the rods.

The electrode as a whole may be easily and cheaply constructed and is durable and efficient.

In my pending application, Serial No. 24,158, tiled .Iuly 19, 1900, I have claimed a complete cell embodying as one of its parts the electrode herein claimed.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates that modi-l lications may be made in details without departing from the spirit thereof. Hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts hereinabove set forth and illustrated in the drawings; but,

Having thus described the nature and objects of the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An electrode for electrolytic cells comprising a block of carbon and carbon rods roo extending through the block and adjustably iiztuge and havingopeuings through it, carbon and detaehably Connected thereto bye serewrods extending through seid openings, and a thread connection,substantiallyas described. Screw-thread connection between the rods 2. An electrode for eleetrolytie cells comand block, substantially as described. 5 prisingztbloek of carbon having tapped holes In testimony whereof I have hereunto 15 formed through it and carbon rods provided signed my name.

with threads and extending through said n BRODDE E. F. RHODIN. holes, substantially as described. 1 In presence of- Y 3. An electrode for eleetrolytic cells 00uu- GRACE B. HURLBUT,

1o prising a block of carbon having a marginal K. M. GILLIGAN. 

